Their eyes met, and in He Sui’an’s gaze was reflected the face of Qi Buyan.
Outside, the sound of rain pattered softly. She pressed her lips, which had brushed against his palm, and held his hand, trying to pull it away, but then there was a knock on the door.
A young Taoist’s voice came through the door: “I am here to bring you some hot tea.”
It was raining at night, and not knowing if they had been caught in the rain, he brought them hot tea, showcasing the considerate and thoughtful nature of the monks at Xuanmiao Temple.
No wonder the people of Qingzhou spoke so highly of Xuanmiao Temple; the monks here were very attentive. After all, they could have just let them take shelter from the rain, but bringing hot tea was an extra gesture of goodwill.
He Sui’an turned her head to look at the door.
“Are you two resting?”
Seeing that the room was still lit, the young Taoist asked again, assuming they were not yet asleep.
Qi Buyan released his hand from He Sui’an’s. She went to open the door and took the pot of hot tea from the young Taoist with both hands: “Thank you, Taoist.”
“This is what I should do,” the young Taoist, with delicate features and around his teens, replied. His slender frame and the simple gray Taoist robe he wore added a touch of calm and restraint befitting a monk.
He reminded them to remember to drink the hot tea.
Though the weather was warming up, getting caught in the rain at night could still easily make one sick.
The fragrant hot tea was heartwarming.
Qi Buyan picked up a teacup with his fingers, poured a cup of tea, and sipped a few times until the cup was empty, then poured another cup, seemingly very thirsty: “The tea is very good, thank you.”
He accepted the hot tea brought by the young Taoist and expressed his gratitude.
The young Taoist’s impression of him changed again.
On the way to the room, the young Taoist had noticed that Qi Buyan did not return greetings to other monks, but he didn’t mind, as such things couldn’t be forced.
Though the young Taoist didn’t care, his impression of Qi Buyan was naturally not good.
But people’s thoughts are ever-changing.
When the young Taoist heard Qi Buyan thank him for the hot tea, he thought he was a good person, probably because his handsome appearance made it hard for people to hold a grudge against him.
He Sui’an did not drink the hot tea.
She wasn’t thirsty.
Drinking too much tea at night might make her need to use the restroom, so since she wasn’t thirsty, she didn’t drink.
The young Taoist watched Qi Buyan drink cup after cup of tea and calmly said, “Drinking too much tea at night is not good. Young master, you should drink in moderation and avoid getting sick from the night rain.”
Qi Buyan set down the teacup, smiling, “I’m not sleepy yet. May I tour the temple? I’ve never been to a temple before.”
“This…” The young Taoist was caught off guard, stunned.
He was about to refuse them by saying that the venerable Sanshan Zhenren needed to meditate at night.
But Qi Buyan seemed to predict this.
He said, “Xuanmiao Temple is so large. If you tell us where Sanshan Zhenren is meditating, we can avoid that area. Would that be acceptable?”
The young Taoist was silent for a long time before politely refusing again, stating that they could freely tour Xuanmiao Temple during the day, but not at night. This was an established rule of the temple, and he asked for their understanding.
He Sui’an also couldn’t guess why Qi Buyan suddenly wanted to tour the temple.
Wasn’t he not interested in the temple?
She pondered for a moment but remained silent.
After being politely refused by the young Taoist, Qi Buyan did not persist. Understandingly, he said in a low voice, “Alright, I won’t trouble the Taoist.”
The young Taoist was relieved.
He left the room and closed the door.
He Sui’an sat back down in her chair, leaned over, and sniffed the hot tea brought by the young Taoist. It smelled very fragrant. She didn’t understand tea, but she had no resistance to things that smelled nice, sniffing like a dog with a keen sense of smell.
Qi Buyan walked over and tapped the gray porcelain cup from Xuanmiao Temple with his fingertips, the slight sound drawing He Sui’an’s attention to him.
Once again, her eyes were filled with him.
This inexplicably pleased Qi Buyan.
He Sui’an glanced at the silver butterfly chain gently swinging on Qi Buyan’s wrist, “Why did you suddenly want to tour Xuanmiao Temple? Is it really just because it’s your first time here?”
He responded with a “Hmm,” reaching out to untie the silk ribbon in He Sui’an’s hair, carefully folding it piece by piece, “I just got curious.”
Curious about why the young Taoist drugged the tea.
Initially, Qi Buyan hadn’t intended to bother with Xuanmiao Temple, just wanting to take shelter for the night. But since they had drugged the tea, he wanted to find out the reason.
But there was no rush.
It wasn’t a matter of importance to him.
He Sui’an lay on the table, making it easier for Qi Buyan to help untie the silk ribbons in her hair.
Tying and untying the silk ribbons was quite a hassle.
Each time she tied or untied the silk ribbons, He Sui’an had to lift her hands back for a long time, making her arms sore. However, Qi Buyan really liked her hair and enjoyed taking care of it.
At first, He Sui’an felt it was too much trouble for him, but after it happened many times, it seemed to become a natural thing.
He Sui’an wasn’t sleepy yet.
She was just tired from climbing the mountain and didn’t want to move.
*
After the young Taoist left the room, he did not return to his own chamber but instead went straight to the alchemy room where Sanshan Zhenren resided.
The alchemy room was divided into two parts.
The outer room was where Sanshan Zhenren usually rested. There were not many things, just a table, chairs, a bed, and a few bookshelves.
The inner room was where Sanshan Zhenren meditated, facing the back mountain. It contained a workshop for refining elixirs and an altar. He would usually be inside at night and would only come out during the day.
The young Taoist had been at the temple since he was a child, following Sanshan Zhenren.
He was very familiar with Sanshan Zhenren.
In Sanshan Zhenren’s presence, the young Taoist enjoyed privileges that new disciples did not have.
For instance, the young Taoist could freely enter Sanshan Zhenren’s alchemy room without being summoned. However, since there were outsiders in the temple tonight, according to the rules, he should inform Sanshan Zhenren.
The young Taoist walked to the bookshelf in the outer room, took down an unremarkable alchemy scripture, and a wall opened inward, revealing the door to the inner room.
He put the book back in place and walked in.
Once inside, the door automatically closed.
The inner room was brightly lit, unlike the outer room. There was a furnace and a cauldron, with steam rising. Soon after entering, the young Taoist began to sweat, but he was used to it and continued walking.
An old Taoist sat reading in front of the furnace. He was nearly seventy years old, with the marks of time on his face, but he looked more vigorous and youthful than others his age. His white hair and eyebrows gave him an aura of otherworldliness.
The young Taoist bowed his head in salute.
He quietly called, “Master.”
The old Taoist, Sanshan Zhenren, raised his head and closed his book, “What is it?”
The young Taoist informed Sanshan Zhenren about the outsiders taking shelter in the temple tonight and described the appearance of He Sui’an and Qi Buyan, specifically mentioning the poisonous snake on the boy.
Sanshan Zhenren smoothed the slightly wrinkled blue Taoist robe, left his mat, and walked barefoot to the three-legged, two-eared cauldron carved with a qilin, “Indigo clothes, silver ornaments, a poisonous snake…”
He had lived for nearly seventy years and had seen many things, including people similar to this.
Could they be from the Tianshui Village in Miaojiang?
Sanshan Zhenren had met someone from Tianshui Village in Miaojiang before and learned a few things.
People from Tianshui Village in Miaojiang without insects or snakes on them are likely not skilled in Gu magic. Those with insects appearing on them must be skilled in Gu magic, and those who can control venomous snakes are highly proficient in it.
Most importantly, the butterfly silver chain they wear has great significance.
If the butterfly silver chain is broken, they die.
This fatal weakness was known to Sanshan Zhenren because he once witnessed a person from Tianshui Village die due to their butterfly silver chain being torn.
The young Taoist observed Sanshan Zhenren’s expression and did not speak, knowing he was deep in thought.
“Yuande,” called Sanshan Zhenren.
This was the young Taoist’s name.
Upon hearing his name, Yuande straightened up, “What are your orders, Master?”
Sanshan Zhenren beckoned him closer, “Yuande, do you understand my intentions?”
Referring to himself as “I” indicated closeness.
Yuande didn’t need Sanshan Zhenren to say more; he already knew what he intended. He knelt before him, “I understand.”
Sanshan Zhenren looked at Yuande with affection.
Yuande continued, “Master, the young man drank several cups of the hot tea I brought. The young woman didn’t drink any, but she seems obedient and should not wander without permission. They will likely descend the mountain by tomorrow.”
Just one cup of the tea could make a person sleep through the night.
With them asleep, they naturally couldn’t cause trouble. The method should be effective.
“This matter cannot afford any mistakes,” Sanshan Zhenren sighed. “Yuande, I do not want to see anything uncontrollable happen on Dengyun Mountain.”
Tonight, they drank the tea and would sleep through the night. But since they chose to come up the mountain at night, they might want to stay on Dengyun Mountain another night. Although their intentions were unknown, if they encountered people from Xuanmiao Temple while…
Upon hearing this, Yuande lifted his chin.
He was still young, with a tender and innocent face.
Sanshan Zhenren lowered his eyes, appearing as benevolent and kind as the statues of the Three Pure Ones in Xuanmiao Temple.
Yuande bowed his head again.
It was as if he feared desecrating the Master and did not dare to meet his gaze, admitting his fault, “You are right, Master. It was thoughtless of me. I will watch the guest room tonight, and at the slightest disturbance…”
The compassionate and gentle Sanshan Zhenren interrupted him, “Kill them.”
A year ago, someone else had also tried to infiltrate Xuanmiao Temple at night.
They had stumbled upon something they shouldn’t have.
It was Yuande who had dealt with the intruder personally. He still remembered the feeling of that time: confusion, bewilderment, and helplessness. He was a monk, a revered Taoist, but he had killed.
Sanshan Zhenren had sent him.
It was also Sanshan Zhenren who told him that what they were doing was right, and Yuande had always believed in his words.
“They haven’t stumbled upon anything they shouldn’t have. As long as they stay in the guest room for the night and descend the mountain tomorrow, there will be no issue,” Yuande said, slightly hesitant.
“Yuande,” Sanshan Zhenren showed a look of disappointment.
Yuande immediately fell silent.
Sanshan Zhenren said, “What if they intend to stay on Dengyun Mountain tomorrow night as well? It’s better to kill a thousand wrongly than to let one slip by. They should have heeded the warning on the stone tablet at the foot of the mountain. It was their choice to climb at night, and they got caught.”
“Luckily, we discovered them in time to prevent any future trouble.”
These words left Yuande uncertain.
Yuande hesitated, “That young man is no ordinary person. I fear that…”
Sanshan Zhenren helped him to his feet.
“I understand.”
